The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 186

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma – Chapter 186**

“Autumn Lopez?”

The room fell into an awkward hush, the air thick with tension.

Expressions flickered across the faces of the gathered crowd, a chaotic blend of shock, embarrassment, and a hint of dread. The very person they had been whispering about just moments ago had materialized before them, and to their astonishment, she wore a smile that seemed to challenge the very atmosphere of their gossip.

They had been mercilessly dissecting her reputation, ripping apart her character for the alleged betrayal that had sent shockwaves through their circles.

As the memories of their harsh words washed over them, their faces contorted into a medley of discomfort and guilt.

“Long time no see, Mr. Bell,” Autumn said, her voice steady and composed as she turned her gaze toward the older executive who had called her name.

“It seems we’ve been out of touch for quite a while. You appear to be thriving these days,” she added, her tone laced with a subtle undertone that hinted at the reality of his expanding waistline.

Mr. Bell’s expression soured, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. Yet, he refrained from retaliating; after all, Autumn had powerful connections that he couldn’t afford to alienate.

However, a few others among the crowd, emboldened by the liquid courage they had consumed, were ready to pounce.

“You’ve got some nerve showing up here! If I were you, I’d find a hole to crawl into instead of embarrassing myself in front of everyone,” one of them spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

That remark shattered the fragile silence that had hung in the air, like glass breaking under pressure.

Autumn’s smile, once bright and unwavering, began to fade, replaced by a steely resolve. “Oh? I wasn’t aware that my presence here warranted such hostility. What have I done that demands I hide away?”

With a gentle pat on her rounded belly, she stood tall, her demeanor calm and collected. “But as you all know, I’m expecting. Why don’t we all take a seat and discuss this like adults?”

Her unexpected composure left the onlookers bewildered.

The questions swirled in their minds: Was Autumn so unshakeable because she had been caught and simply didn’t care, or was her confidence rooted in her innocence?

“Who do you think you’re fooling?” one executive sneered, his voice thick with condescension.

In the cutthroat world of business, while enemies might not be permanent fixtures, there were always those who relished the chance to see you falter.

Autumn had once fought tooth and nail against these very people while she built her empire at Cloudbreak. To her, those battles felt like ancient history, but for them, the scars were fresh and festering.

A few of the executives, particularly the old-school types, wore their arrogance like a badge of honor. They had never accepted a woman like Autumn commanding the spotlight. Now that they had a scandal to exploit, they were eager to drag her down further.

“Everyone knows about your little mess. Did you really think you could keep it a secret?” one of them jeered.

“We’re doing you a favor by not spelling it all out. Don’t you have any self-awareness?”

Autumn listened to their venomous words, her expression betraying nothing.

“My little mess?” she echoed, her voice steady.

“You all seem rather upset. Why don’t you share your thoughts with me so we can clear the air?”

“You—”

The man who had spoken was taken aback by her audacity, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. He was about to unleash his fury when Mrs. Lopez and Lydia, finally snapping out of their shock, rushed forward to intervene.

Lydia positioned herself protectively in front of Autumn, not just to shield her from the confrontation but to block her from advancing further into the room where the crowd loomed large.

“Autumn, I know you didn’t intend for this to spiral out of control. There are so many people here today. If this escalates, it could spell disaster for both you and Mars. I think it would be best if you just apologized,” Lydia urged, her voice a mix of concern and urgency.

“Yes, yes, Autumn, acknowledging your mistake is the first step toward mending things. We all know you’re not the type to back down. If you just admit what you did, I’m sure Mars will forgive you,” Mrs. Lopez added, casting a significant glance at Mars. “Isn’t that right, Mars?”

Mars had felt a wave of panic wash over him the moment he spotted Autumn.

But witnessing his mother-in-law and Lydia rallying behind him gave him a moment of clarity.

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